Rescuers who saved lives of seven people in trouble at sea among inspirational North Wales nominees for St David Awards

A group who saved the lives of seven people who got into trouble in the sea off the North Wales coast are among the finalists for this year’s St David Awards.

RNLI volunteers Arwel Jones, Drew Nickless and Alun Edwards were helped by brothers Josh, Will and Ollie Brown when two separate groups of people got into trouble in the sea at Aberdyfi on a Sunday afternoon last summer.

They have been nominated in the bravery category at the national St David Awards, which celebrate the extraordinary achievements of the people of Wales.

Also making the finals in the community spirit section are the Denbighshire Dial a Ride volunteer team, who have provided a life line to people with a disability, impairment or who cannot use public transport during the coronavirus pandemic by delivering prescriptions and doing their shopping.

Staff at the Cherry Tree care home in Coedpoeth, Wrexham have had their names put forward for the critical worker category after they left their families for six weeks to move in with residents during the crisis.

Delwyn Derrick, founder of Bellevue Football Club in Wrexham, has made the final cut for using sport to bring people from diverse backgrounds together, including refugees, asylum seekers and people with mental health issues or learning difficulties.

Workers from Airbus Broughton in Flintshire involved with the ‘UK Ventilator Challenge’ have also been shortlisted for helping to build lifesaving equipment for the NHS at the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

Announcing the finalists, First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “This year’s St David Awards finalists are an inspiring group of people that we are lucky to have living and working in Wales.

“The past year has been incredibly challenging for many of us.

“The coronavirus pandemic has brought much sadness and heartbreak – but it has also brought out the best in many people.

“This group of people from across the whole of Wales, are a true inspiration to us all.

“This year, we’ve added a new category to celebrate the contribution of our critical workers.

“Thousands of people have worked tirelessly and selflessly throughout the pandemic to keep our lives going through the hardest of times. I am so grateful for every act of kindness; big or small.

“We could not have responded the way we did without them.”

This year’s award categories are: Bravery; Business; Community Spirit; Culture and Sport; Humanitarian; Innovation, Science and Technology, Young Person Critical Worker and the First Minister’s Special Award. .

The online award ceremony will take place on Wednesday 24 March.